Signaling mechanism for motor-cars, &amp;c.



F. H. ROLL.

SIGNALING MEGHANISM FOR MOTOR CARS, &c. APPLICATION FILED JAN-19,1914.

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F. H. ROLL.

SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR CARS, m.

APPLICATION HLED JAN. [9. I914- Patented May 8, 1917.

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F. H. ROLL. SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR CARS, 81c.

APPLICATION man JAN- 19. 1914.

Patented May 8,1917.

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FRANK H. ROLL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SIGNALING MECHANISM FOR MOTOR-CARS, 860.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1%1-7.

Application filed January 19, 1914. Serial No. 813,106.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. ROLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signaling Mechanism for Motor-Cars, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a signaling mechanism whereby the driver or chauffeur on a motor car or other vehicle may inform persons either in front or inrear of his car of the direction in which he intends to travel and thereby put such persons on their guard for the purpose of avoiding accidents.

It is the object of this invention to provide a mechanism for this purpose which is comparatively simple and inexpensive in construction and not liable to get out of order, which can be readily manipulated for indicating the direction in which the car will travel, which can be readily applied to new as well as old cars, and whichcan be utilized as a signal for this purpose both in the daytime and during the night time.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a motor car or automobile equipped with the preferred form of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of one of the signaling heads embodying my improvements, the section being taken in line 2-2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same taken in line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. a is a horizontal section taken in line H, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detached view of the indicator forming part of the signal head. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of one of the means for guiding the intermediate'part of a belt which operates one of the indicators. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the same taken in line 7-7, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the means for operating the inclicators. Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same taken in line 99, Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal section on an enlarged scale, taken in line 1010, Fig. 1, and showing the manually operated means adjacent to the chaulfeurs or drivers seat for setting the indicators. Fig. 11 is a vertical section showing a modified construction of the means for coupling one of the belt conduits with a casing containing guide pulleys or like parts.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings my invention is organized to signal persons both in front and in rear of the motor car as to the direction which the car will take in continuing its travel. It is to be understood, however, that my invention is capable of use at either one end only of the car. In its general organization my improved signaling mechanism as shown in the drawings comprises a front signal head 1 arranged upon the car in front of the radiator 2, a rear signal head 8 arranged at the rear end of the body 4 and an operating mechanism arranged within convenient reach of the chauffeur or driver so that he can set both of these signaling devices simultaneously while oc cupying his seat.

Inasmuch as the front signal and rear signal heads are identical in construction the following description as to the details of one will apply to both.

Each signal head comprises a frame or casing composed of a main part or body the upper part 5 of which is enlarged and provided with an annular forwardly facing rabbet 6 and a lower part 7 which is reduced and provided wit-h a downwardly extending tubular neck 8, and a cover secured to the front side of the body and having a narrow lower part 9 which closes the narrow lower part of the body while its wide upper part is provided with a central opening and forms an annular rim 10 which extends over the front side of the rabbet on the upper part of the body. The rear wall of the upper enlarged part of the body is constructed of inwardly dished or spherical form so as to produce a chamber 11 in which is arranged a lamp or light 12, preferably an electric bulb, for use in illuminating the signal or indicator during the night time.

In front of the light or lamp is arranged a rotatable indicator support 13 which is preferably constructed in the form of a ring which turns with its periphery in the rabbet of the casing. In order to permit this ring to turn easily about its horizontal longitudinal axis its lower part rests upon two large supporting sheaves or pulleys 14 which are arranged within the contracted lower part of the casing while the periphery of this supporting ring is supported on its horizontal diametrically opposite sides by means of anti-friction rollers 15 and the top of the periphery of the same is engaged by an upper anti-friction roller 16. Each of the anti-friction rollers is preferably mounted to turn in a horizontal screw 17 which serves as a pivot for the same and also as a means for connecting the adjacent part of the cover or front plate of the casing with the body thereof. Each of the large supporting pulleys 14: is preferably mounted upon a horizontal pivot stud or arbor 18 projecting forwardly from the lower part of the inner wall of the easing, and the adjacent part of the cover is secured to the outer ends of this stud by means of a screw 19 so that the latter serves the double purpose of confining the respective pulley on its stud and also securing the adjacent part of the cover in place.

On the front edge of the supporting ring is mounted an indicator which is preferably so constructed that it is capable of use as a signal both during the daytime and also at night time. In its preferred form this indicator comprises an inner disk or plate 20 of red glass or other colored transparent material, an intermediate plate or disk 21 of milk white glass or similar material and an outer plate 22 of non-transparent or opaque material such as sheet metal, all of these plates being of circular form and secured at their margins in a .rabbet 24 formed in the front edge of the supporting ring by means of screws 23, as shown, or by other suitable means. The central part of the outer plate is cut out to form an opening 25 therein which, as shown in Fig. 5, has preferably the form of an arrow, although any other suitable configuration may be given to this opening. The outer plate is preferably dark so that the arrowshaped opening therein presents a white appearance during the daytime owing to the white glass in rear of the same. During the night time, however, this arrowshaped opening is illuminated by lighting the lamp in rear of the same so that the same signal device may be utilized both in the light and in the dark. The bulb of the lamp is of clear glass and when the same is lighted at night the arrow in the outer plate will show up in the same color as the inner plate because the light must first pass through the inner plate before passing through the intermediate and outer plates. By turning the supporting ring together with the transparent and opaque plates on the front edge thereof so that the arrow points in one direction or another it is possible to inform persons either in front or in rear of the motor car as to the direction in which the respective car will pursue its course. For instance, if the supporting ring is turned so that-the arrow points downwardly it will serve as a signal that the car is standing still or intends to come to a stop. By turning the supporting ring so that the arrow points upwardly it will serve as a signal that the car is about to proceed or continue in its course ahead. In like manner by turning the supporting ring so that the arrow points either toward the left or toward the right this will serve as a signal that the car will change its course accordingly. This turning of the supporting ring may be accomplished by various means but those which are shown in the drawings are suitable and are constructed as follows:

26 represents a main operating pulley arranged below the fioor 27 of the chaulfeurs compartment of the car and 28, 29 represent two endless belts one of which passes around one part of the periphery of the operating pulley'and around the supporting ring of the front signal while the other belt passes around another part of the periphery of the operating pulley and the periphery of the supporting ring of the rear signal. These belts may be of any suitable construction and material and are merely shown in the drawings in the form of a round rope as an example of one type of belt which will answer the purpose. In order to'enable each of these belts to pass around its respective supporting ring the periphery of the latter is provided with a circumferential groove 30 which receives the companion belt, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The operating pulley is likewise provided with two circumferential grooves 81, 32 which are arranged side by side, one-of these receiving the belt for operating the front signal and the other the belt for-operating the rear signal, thereby keeping these belts apart and preventing interference between the same. As the two stretches of each of these belts pass on and off the periphery of one of the supporting rings the same engage with the opposing sides of the two belt pulleys 14 in the lower contracted parts of the respective signal casing, the peripheries of these pulleys being grooved, as shown at 81 for the reception of this belt, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. As the two stretches of the two belts pass on and off the main operating pulley the same are guided and held in place by means of two pairs of guide pulleys. 33, 3 1-which are arranged on opposite sides of the operating pulley and are provided with peripheral grooves 35 which receive the stretches of the belts. The two sets or pairs of guide pulleys are arranged out of line in the direction of the axis of the operating pulley so that each pair of these guide pulleys cooperates properly with the stretches of the companion belt pulley, as shown in Fig. 9. The operating pulley, the adjacent belt guide pulleys and associated parts are mounted within a casing arranged underneath the bottom or foot board of the chauifeurs compartment which casing, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, comprises a lower section or body 36 provided with four vertical pivot studs or arbors 37 formed integrally with the bottom of this casing and projecting upwardly therefrom, two tubular necks 38 projecting laterally'from opposite ends of the lower section of this case and a cover or upper sec tion 39 secured to the upper ends of the studs by means of screws 40 and engaging its marginal portion with the side walls 41 of the lower casing section. The guide pulleys 33, 2 4 are mounted to turn on the vertical studs 37 and are held in their position thereon relatively to the operating pulley by engaging the upper sides of one pair of these pulleys with the underside of the cover 39 and extending the hubs 42 thereof to the bottom of this casing while the other pair of guide pulleys are held in their proper position relatively to the operating pulley by engaging the under sides of the last mentioned pair of pulleys with the bottom of this casing and extending the hubs 43 thereof upwardly to the cover of this casing, as shown in Fig. 9. The two stretches of one of the belts pass through one of the tubular necks 38 and the two stretches of the other belt pass through the other tubular neck 38. This case may be supported on the underside of the car body in any suitable manner, for instance by means of brackets, clips or straps 44 embracing the neck of this casing and secured to the underside of the body, as shown in Fig. 1.

The operating pulley may be turned by any suitable means but preferably by means of an upright shaft 45 having its lower part journaled in a bearing 46 in the bottom of the lower casing section and connected with the operating pulley by providing the hub of the latter with a square or flat sided opening 47 in its hub which receives the corresponding shaped lower part 48 of the operating shaft. At its upper end the latter is provided with a laterally projecting crank or handle 49 which is arranged within con venient reach of the chauffeur or driver while he occupies his seat. By turning this handle in one direction or the other the operating wheel causes the belts passing around the same to move either one way or the other and thereby cause the supporting rings which carry the arrow-shaped indicators to also turn vertically into various positions about a horizontal axis. In order to enable the chauffeur to turn the indicators to a predetermined position for signaling the direction in which the car is going to move or whether the same is going to stop or start, an index or setting device is provided which preferably comprises a stationary ring 50 arranged concentrically around the upper part of the operating shaft and provided at different quarters with the letters L, A H, R and S which letters denote left, ahead, right and stop and are adapted to be traversed by a pointer or finger 51 mounted on the handle 49. When the handle is turned so that the pointer stands over the letter L the arrows of both the front and rear signals will indicate that the vehicle is about to turn to the left. If the pointer stands over the letter R the arrows of both signaling devices will be shifted to a position which will indicate that the vehicle is about to turn to the right, and in like manner a shifting of the pointer over the letters A H or S will cause the arrows to be turned to a position which will indicate that the vehicle will continue its course straight ahead or will come to a standstill. This setting scale is preferably formed on a bracket 52 which is secured to the adjacent post or mast 53 of the steeririg mechanism of the car. Said bracket is also provided with a bearing 54 in which the upper part of the operating shaft of the signaling mechanism is journaled, as shown in Fig. 1.

Various means may be provided for guiding and protecting the stretches of the two belts between the operating mechanism and the signal device. As shown in the drawings, the stretches of the front and rear belt are guided adjacent to the casing of the operating mechanism by passing the same around inner intermediate guide pulleys 55 mounted on the underside of the car body and these stretches are also guided at points below the front and rear signal heads by passing the same around outer intermediate guide pulleys 56. These last mentioned guide pulieys are arranged within a casing having a hollow body 57 which is provided with a central partition 58 formed integrally therewith and having two pivot studs or arbors 59 projecting laterally from opposite sides of the partition, a lower tubular neck 60 projecting inwardly from the lower part of the body, an upper tubular neck 61 projecting upwardly from the upper part of the body 57, and two cover plates 62 which close openings on opposite sides of the central part of the casing body and are secured thereto by means of a bolt 63 passing through these cover plates and the pivot studs of the easing, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The guide pulleys 56 turn on the studs or arbors 59 and each of these pulleys is confined between one side of the partition and the cover plate on the respective side of the casing. As the two of the companion indicator casing by a pipe or conduit 64 which receives the stretches of the respective belt. A similar pipe or conduit 65 is also preferably connected with the lower neck of the casing body 57 which receives the outer intermediate pulleys 56- and extends to within a short distance of the companion inner intermediate pulleys, which conduit receives the adjacent parts of the respective belt and protects the same against damage or interference with other parts.

Each of the necks of the indicator casing and on the outer intermediate casing may be connected with the end of the companion pipe or conduit in any suitable way. For instance, as shown in Figs. 3, 4:, 6 and 7 this may be effected by slipping the end of a conduit into one of a tabular neck and clamping the latter around this conduit by forming a longitudinal slit 80 in this neck and connecting ears 66 projecting laterally from this neck on opposite sides of the slit by a bolt 67. Upon tighteifing the latter the split neck will be contracted around the belt conduit and hold these parts firmly in place relatively to each other.

Instead of the construction shown in Figs. 3, 4L, 6 and 7 each of the conduits 68 may be secured in a neck 69 of one of the casings by providing such neck with one or more longitudinal slits 70 and contracting the jaws thus formed on this neck around the conduit by means of a clamping sleeve 71 surrounding the conduit and provided with an internal conical screw thread 72 which engages with an external conical screw thread 7 3 on the neck, as shown in Fig. 11.

If only a rear or tailsignal is required on the car the front signal and the parts associated therewith may be omitted and in like manner the rear signal and its operating mechanism may be omitted if only a front or head signal is desired.

It will be manifest from the foregoing that this signaling mechanism can be produced at comparatively low cost, the same is not liable to get out of order when used properly nor is it liable to be affected by the weather inasmuch as all of the working parts are protected. Furthermore, the construction of this signaling mechanism is such that it can be readily adapted to cars which vary Widely in detail construction, thereby rendering the same universally applicable to motor cars of every type.

I claim as my invention:

1. A signal mechanism for motor cars having a casing, comprising a body provided with an annular rabbet and a detachable rim extending over said rabbet, a rotatable support carrying an indicator and having a circular periphery arranged in said rabbet and a circumferential groove in said periphery, rollers mounted on said casing and engaging said support, and a belt engaging with said groove.

2. A signal mechanism for motor cars, comprising two rotatable supports each provided with an indicator, an operating wheel, two belts one of which passes around one of said supports and one part of the periphery of said operating wheel and the other passing around the other support and another part of the periphery of said operating wheel, a casing inclosing said operating wheel, and guide pulleys for said belts arranged within said casing, the guide pulleys for one of said belts being arranged in a different plane from the guide pulleys of the other belt.

3. A signal mechanism for motor cars, comprising a rotatable support provided with an indicator, an operating wheel, a belt passing around said operating wheel and support, and means for guiding the intermediate parts of the stretches of said belt comprising a pulley casing having openings on its opposite sides, a partition arranged in a plane between the plane of one of said openings and the plane of the other of said openings, arbors on opposite sides of said partition, covers secured to said arbors and closing said openings, and pulleys mounted on said arbors and receiving the stretches of said belt.

l/Vitness my hand this 15th day of January, 191A.

FRANK H. ROLL. lVitnesses:

MARY C. ROLL, THEO. L. Porr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents, Washington, D. C." 

